Series of "Real-Time" EmergencyNet News Reports Concerning a Car Bombing Outside the BBC Broadcast HQ in London, England: 03-06 Mar 2001
From: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-ERRI Risk Assessment Services-Tuesday, March 6, 2001-Vol. 7, NO. 065
UNITED KINGDOM
Possible Clue In London Bombing?
Detectives from Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch are said to believe that the red taxi carrying the bomb that exploded outside BBC Television Center was involved in an altercation just before the attack. Police interviewed a man who was involved in a shouting match with the driver of the red taxi. Met investigators believe he may have a vital description of the bomber.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry, of Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch, said the bomber is thought to have been involved in an altercation after he cut off another motorist on Scrubs Lane in west London. Fry said that the man who sold the taxi had described the buyer as having a Northern Irish accent.
The chief constable of Northern Ireland's Royal Ulster Constabulary, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, said on Monday he believes the Real IRA will carry out further attacks in Britain and Northern Ireland. He warned the public to be extra vigilant and asked them to work with police to help prevent further attacks. British police forces across the country have been put on full scale alert. Police have warned British citizens to beware of suspicious packages or vehicles. London mainline rail stations Charing Cross and Waterloo were closed on Monday morning while suspect packages were investigated. Both were checked and proved to be false.
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The following is the profile of the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch, courtesy of the Met:
In 1970, a small investigation unit was founded within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) as the result of an increase in politically-motivated crime in the Capital. Several weeks later the home of Robert Carr, then Minister for Employment, was damaged by an explosion. Responsibility for this was later claimed by a group calling itself 'The Angry Brigade'.
As a result, the Metropolitan Police Bomb Squad was formed. It was renamed the "Anti-Terrorist Branch" in March 1976 following the increasing number of bombings, assassinations and other terrorist incidents.
Between 1970 and 1997, the Anti-Terrorist Branch investigated 1312 bombings and 58 shootings. Many of its investigations are high profile and attract a great deal of media and public interest.
The Anti-Terrorist Branch is fully equipped to provide a 24-hour service, with teams of officers immediately available to respond to any type of incident or investigation. Senior investigating officers are supported by experienced detectives, forensic scene examiners, search trained personnel and surveillance officers. Other facilities include an extensive major incident room and research team.
Responsibilities:
-- To investigate all acts of terrorism within the Metropolitan Police area including economic terrorism, politically motivated crimes, and some cases of kidnap and extortion.
-- To help with investigations in other areas of the country. The Commander of the Anti-Terrorist Branch is appointed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) as the national coordinator for the investigation of acts of terrorism and cases involving animal rights extremism.
-- to take responsibility for prevention and planning as well as running counterterrorist exercises for training and contingency planning purposes.
-- The Counterterrorist Search Wing advises generally on all aspects of specialist searches, with responsibility for the policy, training and licensing of search trained officers within the MPS
-- To provide explosives officers within the MPS.
From EmergencyNet Breaking News: http://www.emergency.com/ennday.htm
UNITED KINGDOM:
"Real IRA" Terrorists Target London
One man was slightly injured early Sunday when a powerful car bomb exploded outside the BBC's London headquarters. The blast was seen as a warning that dissident Northern Ireland terrorists are targeting the British capital again. Police said the Real IRA, responsible for Northern Ireland's worst bombing atrocity in 1998, were behind the blast aimed at the BBC. Police were tipped off about the bomb, giving the BBC time to evacuate employees from the building.
An anti-terrorist branch bomb disposal unit, using a remote-controlled robot, was attempting a controlled explosion of the device, hidden in a taxi, when it went off. Alan Fry, of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, said: "We have been predicting since before Christmas that the British mainland and London in particular were to be subject of terrorist attacks. Tonight we have seen one of those terrorist attacks. I can only fear that we will see more."
When asked if he thought the Real IRA, which broke off from the mainstream Irish Republican Army several years ago and is opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process, was to blame Fry said: "That would be my expectation."
Authorities believe the Real IRA has an "active service unit" in London that staged attacks on a river bridge and a rail track in the capital over last summer. It has also been linked with a missile attack on the headquarters of the British government's external intelligence agency MI6 in central London last September. Fry said the bombing was part of a campaign started last June when the Real IRA detonated a bomb on London's Hammersmith Bridge. Security sources say the Real IRA is a breakaway faction with around 140 members based in hardline South Armagh's "bandit country."
Before the BBC bomb, a coded warning was given to a London hospital and a charity 40 minutes before midnight. The bomb exploded at 1930 EST Saturday. Police said the code word used was the same as at last year's bombing of a west London railway line. The blast caused minimal damage to the BBC building.
The following is the US State Department profile of the Real IRA:
Real IRA (RIRA) a.k.a True IRA
Description: Formed in February-March 1998 as clandestine armed wing of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, a "political pressure group" dedicated to removing British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland. The 32-County Sovereignty Movement opposed Sinn Fein's adoption in September 1997 of the Mitchell principles of democracy and nonviolence and opposed the amendment in May 1998 of Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution, which lay claim to Northern Ireland. Former IRA "quartermaster general" Mickey McKevitt leads the group; Bernadette Sands-McKevitt, his common law wife, is the vice chair of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement.
Activities: Bombings, assassinations, and robberies. Most Real IRA members are former IRA who opposed the IRA's cease-fire and bring to RIRA a wealth of experience in terrorist tactics and bombmaking. Targets include British military and police in Northern Ireland and Northern Irish Protestant communities. Has attempted several unsuccessful bomb attacks on the UK mainland. Claimed responsibility for the car-bomb attack in Omagh, Northern Ireland, on 15 August 1998 that killed 29 and injured 220 persons. RIRA has been observing a cease-fire since the bombing.
Strength: About 70, plus possible limited support from IRA hardliners dissatisfied with the current IRA cease-fire and other republican sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, Great Britain.
External Aid: Suspected of receiving funds from sympathizers in the United States. Press reports claim Real IRA leaders also have sought to gain support from Libya and to purchase weapons in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
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21:30CST - 03 Mar 2001
Metro Police Respond to Car Bomb Call Outside BBC HQ in London
London, England (EmergencyNet News) -- Bomb disposal experts have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious vehicle outside BBC TV Center in west London. The incident occurred at approximately 23:30GMT. Click here for the whole story from the BBC...
People with information about today's bombing or other terrorism issues can call the Police anti-terrorism hotline: 0800 789321
TERRORIST BOMB KILLS 28 IN NORTHERN IRELAND, 220 HURT
02/11/96-14:00CST: IRA Claims Responsibility-UK Steps Up Preparedness for More
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